Layoffs announced at two Lewisville companies

The
office of one of the world’s largest publishers and a company that provides
back-office administrative operations reported to the Texas Workforce Commission
that a total of 145 people will lose their jobs starting in September.

In its
letter, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade Publishing told the commission that the
anticipated job losses are in connection with the closing of the Lewisville
facility located at 1175 N. Stemmons Freeway.

The
company, based in Boston, told the commission that 61 positions will be
affected by the closing. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is one of the world’s
largest providers of pre-K through 12th-grade education solutions and a longstanding
publishing house dating to 1832. It is also the publisher of books featuring
the character Curious George and works by J.R.R. Tolkien, among other works,
according to its website.

The
Lewisville office is one of two Texas locations. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt also
has an office in Austin.

Layoffs
at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will begin Sept. 3, according to a letter provided
to the commission.

Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2012,
according to The Boston Globe. A month later, it had emerged from
bankruptcy protection, the newspaper reported.

A
representative with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt could not be reached for comment
Monday.

For its part, Blue Lynx Media at 2501 S. State Highway 121 Business
said 84 employees will lose their positions starting Sept. 9.

Nina Lopez, a communications specialist with Blue Lynx Media, said in
an e-mail that her company is constantly evaluating how to operate its business
in the most efficient way possible.

“After
reviewing opportunities to realign its cost structure, and in an effort to
become a competitive financial shared service center, the company has made the
decision to transition some job functions to an outside vendor,” she wrote. “As
a result, Blue Lynx Media will begin implementing some staff reductions in
September.”

Lopez
said affected employees will receive severance pay, on-site outplacement
assistance and other support services.

Layoffs
at Blue Lynx Media will begin Sept. 9.

Blue Lynx
Media LLC is a subsidiary of the Tribune Co. established in 2010, according to
its website. The company provides back-office operations for clients including
billing, credit, collections, payable and payroll.

KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878
and via Twitter at @KarinaFRamirez.

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